NASA‘s Space Technology Mission Directorate looks to partner with another government agency or a company to demonstrate solar electronic propulsion technologies.
A selected partner will help conduct a flight demonstration of NASA-built SEP systems such as solar arrays and an electric propulsion system equipped with a 13-kilowatt Hall Effect thruster magnetic shielding device, the space agency said Wednesday.
NASA aims to build an advanced SEP technology to power commercial space missions as well as support various science, cislunar space and manned missions to Mars.
The agency will accept input from interested parties through Sept. 8.
NASA added it expects to finish development and qualification efforts for an electric propulsion system in 2019.
The project seeks to encourage rapid commercial infusion of such technology and help reduce technical risks for the space agency’s Deep Space Gateway concept and similar applications.